The golden-orange setting sun passes behind a thin bank of cloud as the Point Atkinson Lighthouse flashes its warning signal out from Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver.
I've been hoping to get this shot for most of the month, but the weather has been firmly against me, with the only days where we've had a clear sunset coinciding with an alignment from parts of the coastline which are unable to be reached without a boat.
This was my last chance for the year, as the next most northerly viewpoint (required as the sun sets further and further south as we approach the winter solstice) no longer has a clear view of the lighthouse, so I jumped at the chance when the weather looked promising, and headed to a very peaceful section of beach in West Vancouver.
Unfortunately a bank of cloud came in from the west just at the last minute, and prevented me from capturing the sun right down by the lighthouse, but given the poor conditions for most of the month, I was very happy to get this shot -- at least until Spring when the next chance comes along!
A single exposure at 600mm, ISO 100, f/11, 1/640th. I tried to predict when the lighthouse would flash and hit the shutter at just the right moment, but kept missing it, so took the easy way out and set the camera to high-speed burst mode and just kept taking photos until I got one with it lit!
I'm a British software developer and photographer living in Vancouver, BC. I mainly photograph landscapes, cityscapes, night scenes, and water.
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You did it, Alexis! Absolutely wonderful and an immediate Fav! Nothing wrong with taking 'the easy way out'. Getting the shot is what matters, and you got it!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, amazing shot, with the sun just peeking behind those moving clouds, the reflections in the water, and the flash in the lighthouse....there is only one word for it: FAV!!
there is nothing more beautiful than a sunset like this (only the sunrise like this could compete with it, you have one? :-)) also your "easy way out" is one lesson i learned from you a long time ago, well, three years ago. great shot, as always!
@summerfield Thank you! Getting the sun itself at sunrise is a bit tricky around Vancouver as the North Shore Mountains, part of the Pacific Ranges, tend to get in the way for most of the year, so you need a high vantage point, and lighthouses are remarkably hard to find above 2,000 feet or so! :)
i meant to tell you for quite a few months now (only because i got a semi-gorgeous shot of the sunset yesterday) that i am the proud owner of an alexis birkill "point atkinson lighthouse" photo! :-) when you find yourself in toronto at some point, please let me know as i want to get it autographed!
@summerfield Thank you very much, that's awesome! Apologies for the delay in replying, I haven't been on here for a couple of months. I will definitely let you know when I'm next in Toronto :)
June 16th, 2015
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